Everything the serious pedicurist needs to increase her pedicure business and improve her techniques.

Could It Be Gel Toes?

Those subtle classy toes peeking out beneath a sandal may look like they’re flashing just ordinary polish, but in fact they could be secretly showcasing the newest trend in feet — gel toes. Here's a step-by-step.

Those subtle classy toes peeking out beneath a sandal may look like they’re flashing just ordinary polish, but in fact they could be secretly showcasing the newest trend in feet — gel toes. Using gels on toenails can help keep pedicures looking fresh and clean while preventing them from chipping. It’s also a great way to increase your revenue.

Akzentz international educator Anna Lajourdie of Polished.ca in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, shows how she creates these French-inspired gel toes. Lajourdie had her boyfriend, Ron Merkely, demonstrate her techniques on her toes while she snapped the photos.

Lajourdie’s boyfriend Ronn Merkely is also a nail tech. She explains how her boyfriend began working on nails, “As a tattoo artist he found the detail of my work fascinating and from early on he would sit close and watch my work. I’ve been teaching him now for a year and though he doesn’t work on clients he is quite good with gels and gives me regular manicures and pedicures — I know, I’m a lucky girl.”

1. Remove the shine from the old gel.

2. Soak cotton with a soak-off solution, like acetone, and apply onto the nail and wrap tightly with aluminum foil. Leave it on for 10 minutes.

3. Scrape the peeling gel off with a cuticle pusher.

4. Apply cuticle softener and push back the cuticles.

5. Buff the nails with a 180- to 240-grit block.

6. Shorten the free edge, but leave the nail a little longer. You will finish file at the very end.

7. Using a medium sanding band, remove the excess hard skin around the nails. Dust the nails and wipe well with prep.

8. Apply a gel bonder and let it dry to chalky white.

9. Apply a thin layer of base coat and cure for two minutes.

10. Using a square brush, apply white gel to the free edge. Use gentle vertical strokes and cover the free edge from side to side.

11. Perfect the smile line from the middle to the right and the middle to the left. Flash cure for three seconds. Repeat on all five toenails and then cure for two minutes.

12. Apply a second layer of base coat using light floating strokes. Turn the nail to each side to make sure the surface is even, and then flash cure for two seconds. Repeat on all five nails and then cure for two minutes.

13. Wipe the dispersion layer with a cleanser. Shape the free edge and shorten it a little. This eliminates the artificial looking “roundness” at the free edge. Finally apply lotion and cuticle oil and you’re done.